Chris orbed back into the manor later that afternoon. Piper and Phoebe were sitting in the living room talking. Phoebe was holding Wyatt as they talked. Paige was nowhere to be seen.
"Well?" Piper asked.
"No one was there, just as we suspected," Chris said. "I was able to look around quite a bit."
"What did you find?" Phoebe asked.
"This," Chris said, laying an athame on the coffee table. It resembled the picture of the athame Darryl had shown them. "There were several of these hidden in a box in the back of his closet. Some had blood on them."
"I guess that settles it," Phoebe said. "There's only one reason someone would have those."
"I guess you're right," Piper said. "It must mean he's a warlock or a demon."
"My guess is he's a warlock," Chris said. "There wasn't anything to suggest he wasn't anything other than human. I'm betting this Keith fellow you mentioned is probably also a warlock. They're probably working together."
Just then Paige orbed back into the manor.
"That was good timing," Phoebe said. "Chris just got back. He found this in Darren's apartment."
She showed the athame to Paige.
"That would go along with what I found out in Maryland," Paige said. "Apparently San Francisco isn't the only place where Mr. Carson has been busy. The police out there have his name connected to almost as many cases out there as Darryl found out here. Nothing they could prove but he seems to be around when people are murdered or disappear."
"So it looks like we have a warlock on our hands," Piper said.
"So it would seem," said Phoebe. "And we have to do something about it. There's only one reason he'd be interested in you, Piper. Jeremy waited six months before he made his move."
"That's because our powers were still bound," Piper said. "He had to wait until you read the inscription from the Book of Shadows and we got our powers before he could do anything."
"Well, Carson is obviously up to something," Chris said. "He's probably waiting until the time is right before he strikes. We have to do something before that happens."
"I know," Piper said.
"Has he called yet?" Paige asked.
"No, not yet," said Phoebe. "That seems a bit strange. Piper said they were supposed to finish their date from last night. They were interrupted."
"An interruption that probably meant he was out killing someone else," Chris said. "We'll probably see a report about it on the news. We have to do something before he strikes again. Before another witch or innocent is murdered."
"That's the strange part," Piper said. "I can't believe all of his victims have been witches. If they were he'd have so many powers he wouldn't have to worry. So some of his victims must have been innocents. The question is, why is he killing innocents?"
"Maybe he just likes to kill," Paige offered. "Some people are like that. Maybe he kills just for the thrill of it."
"But most serial killers work alone," Chris said.
"True," said Piper. "But that could also explain why he's never been caught. If Keith is helping him it would be easier to make sure there was no incriminating evidence left lying around. Plus, if there are two warlocks going after the same victim it would make their chances of success greater."
Just then the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Phoebe said, handing Wyatt to Piper.
"Did you have much trouble getting the information in Maryland?" Piper asked Paige.
"No," Paige said. "I told the detective I spoke to that I was a reporter. I was working on a story about unsolved homicides and he was more than happy to fill me in. Of course, I think he might have gotten the impression I was going to call him later."
"Well, the important thing is you got the information," Chris said. "Piper, I think even you have to admit there's more than enough evidence now to show us that this Darren is a threat."
"Yeah, you're right," Piper said. "As much as I hate to admit it, it just seems like I have this habit of attracting the worse possible men. And I don't think we have any other choice. Warlock or not he has to be stopped. There's no telling how many people he's all ready killed or how many more he plans to kill. We have to stop him."
"Piper, Paige," Phoebe called from the front door.
There was a note of urgency in her voice. Piper, Paige, and Chris all hurried to the front door to see what was going on. As they rounded the corner of the living room they all stopped short. Standing on the front porch with a big smile on his face was Darren Carson.
